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Joe Phelan: 22 Years of Rhinebeck Schools and a Lifetime of Rock and Roll

Episode 254: Joe Phelan: 22 Years of Rhinebeck Schools and a Lifetime of Rock and Roll

Former Rhinebeck schools superintendent Joe Phelan on 22 years leading the district, his Southern rock band days, and why he never stopped playing keyboards.

Show notes

This week Norm’s guest is Joe Phelan, a dedicated community volunteer and rock and roll keyboardist who spent 22 years as Superintendent of the Rhinebeck Central School District. Joe grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, the son of a New York City firefighter and a mother who cared for his two sisters with developmental disabilities at home. He started piano at seven. He also hated practicing, a fact his teacher next door could always hear through the shared wall. Then the church organist made him a deal: learn the big pipe organ, but you play the 9:30 children’s mass every Sunday. Joe took it, and he slipped some “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” in between hymns.

He talks about Le Moyne College, 12 years teaching English in Weedsport, and his Southern rock band Kentucky Moon, which opened for Atlanta Rhythm Section and The Outlaws and was once stood up by David Crosby. He also tells a moving story about his father finally earning his high school diploma. Joe looks back on 4:30 a.m. snow day drives, having all three of his kids in the schools he ran, and the two tries it took to pass the referendum for what is now the Joseph L. Phelan Auditorium. In retirement he chairs Rhinebeck’s Autism Supportive Community Committee and the Town of Clinton Climate Smart Communities Task Force, and he is back gigging on keyboards.

Produced by Norm Magnusson, Jennifer Hammoud, and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org

Send comments to comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

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Joe Phelan

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